Mail-bag.



H. EBERT.

MAIL BAG.

APPLICATION FILED D20. 20, 1912.

1,085,1 1 5. Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON. D c:

H. EBERT.

MAIL BAG.

APPLIOATION FILED D110. 20. 1912.

Patented Jan. 27, 191 i 8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 110.,'ASHIKG'TCJN,Dv c4 H. EBERT.

MAIL BAG.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, 1912. 1,085,1 1 5. Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0..WASNINGTON, IJA c.

HARRY EBERT, OF FREDERICK, MARYLAND.

MAIL-BAG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

Application filed December 20, 1912. Serial No. 737,848.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY EBERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Frederick, in the county of Frederick and State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bags, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to closures for mail and other bags particularly to that type of closure which fastens the mouth of the bag in a fiatwise manner, by means of a sliding cover or top, but which will permit the mouth to be opened, when the cover is withdrawn into an approximately circular form for easy filling and emptying of the bag.

The object of the invention is to provide the mouth of a bag with a channel on each side so that when said sides are brought to gether a long narrow flexible cap or cover may he slid thereover to close the mouth, the side edges of said cover being suitably formed to enter and engage with said channel. These channels are formed of a number of hook shaped plates or clips riveted or otherwise secured to the mouth of the bag and spaced aparta short distance so that the flexibility of the mouth may not be impaired, and a casing or housing of canvas or like material inclosing the clips of either side whereby the channels are made continuous from end to end thus enabling the edges of the cap to slide freely therein without danger of amming or catching on the corners of the plates or clips. The mouth is reinforced on each side by a strip of leather, canvas or other suitable material, the leather strip when used serving also to assist in forming the channel.

A further object of the invention is to provide in connection with the sliding cap or cover, a plate fastened to the hand grip, by means of which grip said cover is drawn over the mouth of the bag for closing the same, which plate is provided with a slot for a staple on the bag to receive a padlock, and also with a pocket to receive a card on which is printed a name indicating the destination of the bag.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the mouth end of a mail bag constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view partly in section with the clip or cover fully withdrawn. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the cover withdrawn and the mouth open, portions being broken away to disclose the construction. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 4 4: of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view in section showing the formation of the channel. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified hook plate or clip. Fig. 7 is a side elevation partly in section of a bag showing a modified form of the invention. Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view of the same. Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of a further modification. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing a still further modified form of the device. Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view of the same. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the hook plate or clip used in the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a hook plate or clip slightly different from that of Fig. 12. Fig. 14; is a perspective view of a portion of the cap or cover, showing the hand grip and the destination plate connected thereto.

In the drawings, 25 designates a bag or pouch of canvas, leather or other suitable material having an open mouth normally long and narrow but which may be opened to a much greater extent when necessary to fill or empty the bag or pouch.

On each side of the fiat mouth of the bag or pouch 25 are secured a plurality of hooked shaped plates or clips 26 which together form channels 27 for the edges 28 of a closure in the form of a long narrow flexible cap or cover 29. The hook plates or clips 26 are preferably made of sheet steel, and in the form of the device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, each comprises a straight flat body portion a having holes therein for rivets 30 by means of which the clips are fastened to the bag 25. The straight portion of the clip projects above the top of the bag for a suitable distance and is bent outwardly at right-angles as at b, and then downwardly parallel to the side a as at 0, to form the channel 27. Inclosing the series of clips on each side of the mouth is a casing or housing 31, preferably made of canvas but any other material suitable for the purpose may be employed. This housing closely covers the clips and follows the outline of their hook-shaped ends and extends down below their straight sides a where it is fastened to the bag 25 by stitching, as at 32.

Fastened on each side of the mouth of the bag by means of stitching 33 and the rivets 30, is a strip of stout leather 3 1, the upper edge of which is spaced a short distance below the hooked ends 35 of the plates or clips 26 and forms one side of the channel 27, a narrow slot 36 between the strip 34 and the part c of the clip being provided for the passage therethrough of the cap or cover 29.

In bags of the type, such as shown, wherein the mouth closes fiatwise, it is necessary that these mouths be made flexible so that they may be opened if required into circular form to permit their ready filling. To permit of this flexibility the plates or clips 26 are spaced apart a suitable distance as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The hooked ends 35 of the clips form on each side of the mouth the channel-way 27 which although flexible is by means of the metal clips prevented from collapsing and clamping the sliding cover, and thus interfering with the sliding movement of the same. The housings or casings 31 which inclose the clips on each side form continuous uninterrupted channels in which the edges of the cap or cover slide, and covering the edges of the clips. as they do, uninterrupted passage-ways are formed for the cap or cover.

The cap or cover 29' is made preferably of canvas, the side edges of which have stitched thereto strips 28 of heavy leather of such thickness and width as to slide smoothly within the channel 27. One end of this cap or cover, which is long and narrow, as shown in the drawings, is provided with a loop 37 by means of which the cap may be withdrawn from the mouth of the bag, and a hand grip 38 at the other end for pulling the cover over the mouth of the bag to close it. The cap is prevented from being wholly withdrawn from the bag by stops 40 on said bag which project into the path of the lugs 39 on the cover and arrest the movement of the cover when it has been moved sufficiently far to entirely open the bag mouth.

The preferred form of hook plate or clip is that shown clearly in Figs. 1- and 5 in which the top part 5 thereof is flat and at right-angles to the parts a and c. If desired, however, the clip may be made as in Fig. 6 where the fiat part b is made of semicircular form as at 7).

Instead of forming the channels 27 of plates or clips 26 with hooked shaped upper ends 35, these ends may be bent or rolled downwardly and outwardly into substantially cylindrical form as in Fig. 8, a narrow space 36 being left between the body a of the plate or clip and rolled end 0 for the passage of the cap or cover 29. As in the preferred form of the invention, a casing or housing 31 incloses the plates or clips 26 to form a continuous channel 27 for the en larged or ribbed side edges 28 of the cover. In this form of the invention the channels 27 are framed wholly by the caps or plates 26, thus rendering useless the leather strips 34: which are therefore omitted.

If desired hook shaped plates or clips of the form shown in Fig. 6 or Figs. at and 5 may be secured to the bag in reversed position, the hook ends 35 facing inwardly as in Fig. 9. In this modification the cap or cover 29 will not overlie the shaped ends of the clips as in the previous forms but will be carried wholly in the mouth of the bag as shown in Fig. 9. The leather strip 34 will of course, be secured in the mouth of the bag to complete the channel as is evident. Casings or housings 31 are also employed. In Figs. 10, 11 and 12 a further modification is shown. Here the plates or clips 26 are bent to form complete channels as in Figs. 7 and 8, but instead of cylindrical, as there shown, they are of rectangular shape and have the slots 36 facing inwardly, so as to use a cap or cover 29 similar to that represented in Fig. 9. The clips 26 have straight fiat bodies a as in the other forms, but at the edge of the bag mouth they are bent outwardly as at (Z, then upwardly as at a, then inwardly as at f and finally downwardly as at g leaving a-gap 36 for the cap 29". All the bends are right-angles, the shape of the chamber 27 being substantially square.

The hook shaped plate or clip 26 may be used without the leather strip 34: if desired, by making a fold it in the body part a, see Fig. 13, to project toward the part 0 of the hook and slightly below it to form theslot 36 for the cap or cover.

The hand grip 38, by means of which the cover 29 is drawn over the bag mouth has riveted thereto a flat plate 50 carrying an open mouth pocket 51 in one side of which is a long slot or opening 52 through which may be read the name on the destination card placed within the pocket when the bag is ready to be forwarded.

A portion of the plate 50 projects beyond the open mouth 53 of the pocket and is provided with a slot 54; which also extends through the hand grip 38 through which slot a staple 55 on the bag passes for the purpose of receiving a padlock to secure the cover. The staple 55 extends across the open mouth 53 of the pocket and serves as a means to retain the destination card therein. The plate 50 is provided with extensions 56 on each side of the pocket through which rivets pass securing the same to the hand grip. As thus arranged, the hand grip is stiffened, by means of the plate 50, and the number of loose parts on the bag lessened. The hand grip with the plate and pocket rigidly attached thereto will always be in position, when the cover is drawn to place, to fall over the staple so that no time will be lost in looking and sealing the bag, which when alarge number of bags are tobe closed consumes in the aggregate a considerable time.

I claim 1. A bag or pouch, having a mouth that closes flat-wise, a series of spaced plates or clips arranged in two rows and fastened on the bag at opposite sides of its mouth, said plates or clips having their free ends shaped to form collectively two parallel channels to receive a sliding cover and a casing or housing inclosing the clips of each row and forming a continuous unbroken lining for the channels.

2. A. bag or pouch having a mouth that closes flat-wise, a series of spaced plates or clips arranged in two rows and fastened on the bag at opposite sides of its month, said plates or clips projecting beyond the mouth and having their free ends made in the shape of hooks to form collectively two parallel channels each open on one side, into which channels a cover is adapted to slide, a casing or housing closely encircling the clips of each row and forming a continuous unbroken lining for the channels, and a strip of suitable material attached to the mouth of the bag on each side in position to nearly close the open sides of said channels.

3. A bag or pouch having a flexible mouth that closes flat-wise. a series ot spaced hook ended plates or clips arranged in two rows and fastened on the bag at opposite sides of its mouth in such order that the hook ends form collectively two parallel channels, each open on one side, into which channels a cover is adapted to slide, a casing or housing closely encircling the clips of each row and forming a continuous unbroken lining for the channels, and a strip of leather attached to the mouth of the bag on each side in position to nearly close the open sides of the channels.

l. Combined with a bag or pouch having a flexible mouth that closes flatwise a sliding cover cooperating with said mouth, a row of spaced metal clips on each side of the mouth of such shape as to form collectively two parallel channels that serve as guides for the sliding cover, and a casing or housing snugly inclosing each row of clips to form a continuous lining for the channels.

5. Combined with a bag or pouch having a flexible mouth which closes flatwise, a row of spaced metal clips on each side of the mouth and exterior thereof of such shape as to form collectively two parallel channels, a casing or housing inclosing each row of clips to form a continuous lining for the channels, and a cover for closing said bag or pouch having ribbed or flanged side edges to enter said channels and be guided thereby as the cover is drawn over and off the mouth of the bag.

(3. Combined with a bag or pouch having a flexible mouth that closes flatwise, a row f spaced metal clips on each side of the mouth and exterior thereof of such shape as to form collectively two parallel channels, a casing or housing inclosing each row of clips to form an unbroken lining for the channels, a cover for said bag or pouch having ribbed or flanged side edges slidable in said channels and guided thereby when the cover is drawn to open and close the bag, and fixed stops on the bag or pouch engaged by fixed lugs on the cover to prevent complete withdra *al of said cover when the bag is opened.

7. In a bag or pouch having a mouth, the combination of a closure for said mouth and a series of spaced clips on the sides of the bag near the mouth, said clips being pro vided with a continuous casing to provide an uninterrupted housing and channel for the edges of the closure.

8. in a bag or pouch having a mouth, the combination of a closure for said mouth, and a continuous housing stiffened at intervals to provide an uninterrupted passageway for the reception of the edges of said closure.

In a bag or pouch having a mouth, the combinationv of a closure, a flexible housing on said mouth for the reception of the edges of said closure, and stifl'eniug means within said housing spaced at intervals to maintain the form of said housing and provide an easy sliding of the closure in the housin In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY EBER'L.

lVitnesses A. H. EBERT, M. M. EBERT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

